Every residential college has finalized programs to lower social costs for low-income students in time for Beer Bike, using $500 that the office of the Dean of Undergraduates allocated to each college this semester for the purpose of aiding low-income students.College presidents focused on finding ways to subsidize event and merchandise costs as part of a larger push to cover nontuition expenses that act as barriers preventing low income students from fully participating in the Rice experience. Student leadership began working on this issue over a year ago, when a report from the Student Association showed that nearly 60 percent of students with a household income of less than $50,000 could not participate in Rice events like Beer Bike or service opportunities such as Alternative Spring Break due to the costs involved.

The School of Social Sciences is introducing a new major to replace the policy studies major in fall 2017 in response to student feedback. If approved by the Faculty Senate at its April 19 meeting, the social policy analysis major will be the first of its kind in the United States, according to Dean of Social Sciences Antonio Merlo.

Rice University and the Shepherd School of Music are set to open a new music and opera building in July 2020. Together with Alice Pratt Brown Hall and a connecting plaza, the three will constitute the Music and Performing Arts Center.

Rudolfo Hulen Fernandez, a Filipino who entered with the first Rice University matriculating class in 1912, was the school’s first Asian American. 100 years later, the Rice University Community of Asian Alumni will commemorate the history and evolution of the Asian community over the past century with a celebration at the Rice Media Center on Friday.

The Rice University Police Department recently initiated a test run of security cameras at Lovett College and is set to fully implement a campus-wide security camera initiative as early as this winter.Lovett College President Rahul Kothari attributed Lovett’s decision to quicken the process of implementing the cameras to rising concerns related to exposure to Main Street and construction.